SUMMER 2014

Work is Everyone’s Business!

The Choices for Community Living Program was launched in the fall of 2010 and includes services designed to assist ACBHCS service team consumers with their goals for recovery, including employment. The program is one of our pilot sites for Individual Placement and Support (IPS) implementation through the Dartmouth IPS Learning Collaborative. The staff were challenged to set aside pre-conceived ideas about who might be “ready” to pursue employment and refer consumers based on the consumer’s stated desire to get a job. For many staff, this directly challenged their assumptions about which consumers were “ready” to work. The program was due for a baseline IPS fidelity review in order to clarify the key challenges that lay ahead for program development. The review revealed a score of fair fidelity and provided a solid foundation to work from. Community vs. office based services was one area identified for further development, which

relates to where the services are provided. The follow up fidelity review was completed six months later and revealed a number of very promising results. One area where improvement occurred was in the area of community vs. office based services. In this area, it was observed that definite progress had been made to ensure services were increasingly being provided in the community. This progress, along with other advances, showed increasingly stronger employment outcomes. The overall review revealed a rating of good fidelity. All participating staff is to be commended for their diligence and positive attitude towards the fidelity review process. This tool has proven to be an invaluable tool for quality enhancement and is providing the basis for increasing numbers of consumers getting competitive jobs that fit their preferences. Go Team! —Rick DeGette, Vocational Services Director

Choices Program Successfully Implements IPS

Model; More People Get Competitive Jobs

ACBHCS Vocational Program

Vocational Program Receives Provider of the Year

Award from the Pool of Consumer Champions This June, the Vocational Program was recognized by the Pool of Consumer Champions (POCC) with the Barbara Majak Mental Health Provider of the Year Award. The award celebrates the achievements of providers that have gone above and beyond the call of duty and demonstrated extraordinary commitment to providing quality of life affirming services for the mental health community. Mary Hogden shared with POCC conference attendees about the Vocational Program’s IPS services and Dartmouth partnership, along with noting that several POCC members are currently enrolled in our program. We are truly honored to have received this award and will continue to do our best to help people get and keep jobs!

A group from the Voc Program receives the award from Mary Hogden on June 26.

On most mornings, Yenenew Girma drives over to San Francisco from his home in Oakland and shuttles rush hour commuters to various destinations. He is a contract employee for Uber, the transportation technology company that helps people find rides through a smartphone app. Yenenew was born in Ethiopia and moved to the Bay Area at age seven. From a young age, he shares, “I’ve always loved being in cars and driving.” When he enrolled in the Choices Program almost three years ago, he knew he wanted assistance with getting a job that would preserve his SSI benefits. With the help of employment specialist Joyce Redd, counselor Curt McMichael, recovery coach Michelle Fiorenzo, DOR counselor Jacylou Terciano, and Bonita House staff, he got his Class B driving license and started with Uber in September 2013. Yenenew enjoys the flexibility of his job, the ability to set his own schedule, and the opportunity to explore more of the Bay Area. He is currently working on starting a car wash business and exploring additional transportation-related jobs. His advice for others: “It definitely is better to be active in the community… Look at all of the different options and figure out what is best for you.”

“I really love my job,” Phat Kim shares happily. Currently working full time as a preschool teacher for the Unity Council in Oakland, she has worked tirelessly to get to this point. Eight years ago, she moved from Cambodia to the United States. When Phat arrived in Oakland, she did not know any English and struggled to adjust to a new culture. She shares, “When I first went out, I wanted to buy something to eat because I was hungry, but I didn’t know how to order the food. I learned English little by little- it was very hard, but I just kept going to school and learning.” Eventually, Phat started taking classes in Early Childhood Education from Merritt College in Oakland. The Vocational Program helped Phat find the right school and link to the Department of Rehabilitation for education support. So far, she has completed 24 units and is working toward getting her AA degree by attending class at night. A year ago, Phat secured a position as a substitute teacher and was later promoted to a full time, permanent position. “I’m very proud of myself because I have become a teacher… The parents say I’m a wonderful person to take care of their children.” She adds, “I love the children and they help me relieve my stress. My job helps me feel better.” Phat credits her success to the support of her husband and community, Department of Rehabilitation counselor Darwin Price, Vocational Program counselor Angela Nagrampa, and Asian Community Mental Health Services. Her advice to others is based on her own experience: “Go to school and don’t feel hopeless- you will get a good job.” We are inspired by your determination and success, Phat! —Jackie Pogue, IPS Trainer

Teacher Succeeds with Hard Work and School

From a Family That Values Education: Phat Kim’s mother was a teacher, and now she and her four siblings are all teachers in Oakland, Japan, and Cambodia.

Entrepreneurial Drive Builds Career

Employment specialist Joyce Bleakley helped Pedman Dadnam get a job at Target in Fremont 7 years ago. He’s still a loyal employee, working on the weekends doing cleaning, stocking registers, and handling carts.

7 Years of Job Success

Employer Spotlight: Chuck Corica Golf Complex Situated in the sunny East Bay town of Alameda, the Chuck Corica Golf Complex offers something for every golfer in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Owned by the City of Alameda and managed by Greenway Golf, they have two 18-hole courses, a recently renovated 9-hole course, and a driving range. Last year, people played 116,000 rounds of golf at the Complex. “It is a very busy golf course,” Golf Operations Manager Mike Winkenbach said. “So having good employees like Robert to help service customers is essential.” Robert Green started at the golf course in February 2014 as an Outside Services Staff with the support of his Choices Program employment specialist Michael Castilla. Michael made a connection with Mike Winkenbach last year during his weekly employer outreach visits. Mike was pleased to interview Michael’s candidate, especially because he had hired an Outside Services Staff from the Vocational

Program over ten years ago who still works there. After just a few months on the job, Robert is excelling in the position. “Robert has a great attitude. He’s always upbeat, smiling, and greeting people, in addition to doing his job remarkably well,” Mike explains. Robert takes care of a variety of tasks, including organizing and cleaning golf carts and picking up golf balls from the driving range. Mike speaks highly of services provided by the Vocational Program. “One of the great things about the service is that there’s additional training and other people that care about the employee. I know that I can call

Michael to help someone learn their jobs better.” Michael helped them come up with a system to link golf carts together for towing using a pneumonic device that Robert and other Outside Services Staff now use. Thanks to the Chuck Corica Golf Complex for being a wonderful employer partner!

Golf Operations Manager Mike Winkenbach (right) and Employment Specialist Michael Castilla enjoy the sunshine on the green at the Chuck Corica Golf Complex.

A1 Protective Services ABM Security Accent Care Aegis Care Home Airport Home Appliance Alameda County Public Works Alameda Point Collaborative All Rents Party Rentals Allied Barton Security AT&T Park Auntie Anne’s Pretzels Bay Area Caregivers Bay Linen Berkeley School District Big Joe’s Handling Systems Burlington Coat Factory Big Lots Burger King

Capitol Eye Care Century Theaters Chili’s Choices Program Chuck Corica Golf Course Cinemark City of Oakland Commercial Waste Costco Crossmark, Inc. D.D.’s Discount Dayton Elementary Denny’s Dominos Pizza Elephant Bar Factory 2 U Fred Finch Youth Center City Kids of Alameda H&R Block

Hayward Theater High Street Car Wash Holiday Inn Express Home Depot Hometown Buffet Hutch’s Custom Detailing Dansai Kathryn Malone Kohl's Kraft Corporation Launderland Little Caesar’s Pizza Lowe’s Manheim Co. Massage Envy McDonalds Mi Pueblo NAMI– National Alliance on Mental Illness

Nelson Staffing Oakland School District Oasis Pamper Bar One Toyota of Oakland Ovation Company Pabco Gypsum Padi Restaurant Pak N Save PEERS ProPark America Residence Inn Restaurant Depot Richard Track Rosewood Gardens ROSS Salvation Army Sears Securitas Smart and Final Social Vocational Services

Solano Cleaning Center SOS Meals on Wheels Special Messages Project Staff Pro Target The Unity Council Thrift Town Thunder Road Trader Joes Treatment Center TJ Maxx Togos Sandwiches Uber Technologies UC Berkeley Union 76 Car Wash Valley Java W.I.S. International Walgreens Pharmacy Wendys

Last year, we helped people get 102 jobs in the community— thanks to these employers!

Our annual Employment Celebration in December inspired all who attended. The Vocational Program, along with Bay Area Community Services (BACS), Fred Finch Youth Center, The Pool of Consumer Champions, and BHCS Workforce Development celebrated all consumers who had worked over the past year with a program, awards, and reception. Over 100 people, including family, friends, and providers attended the event. BHCS Deputy Director Toni Tullys kicked off the program by sharing, “We know that competitive employment is where it’s at. Nothing is a greater sign of recovery than the people sitting in this room.”

Consumer speakers emphasized the importance of perseverance and resilience. Jeffry Cole said, “Never stop believing, and never give up.” George Curry echoed this, saying, “Good things happened to me because I didn’t give up.” Another person shared about their physical, mental, and legal challenges along with their work success, stating, “I’m testament to the fact that it can be done.” Tando Goduka used the analogy of Diana Nyad, the 64-year-old woman who swam from Cuba to Florida, to emphasize the importance of a team to help reach one’s goals. Congratulations to everyone on their employment achievements! —Jackie Pogue, IPS Trainer

Annual Employment Celebration Inspires

Contact Us:

ACBHCS Vocational Program

333 Hegenberger Rd, Suite 600, Oakland, CA 94621

Web: www.acbhcs.org/vocational

Phone: 510-383-1600

Email: RDeGette@acbhcs.org

Speakers share their work success and messages of hope: Workers Jeffry Cole, Karla Kamminga, Kenneth Kozi Arrington, George Curry, Tando Goduka, and Paulette Franklin pictured on the left. Health Care Services Director Alex Briscoe pictured on the right

Many people are often unsure about how working might impact their Social Security, Medi-Cal, or other benefits. The rules differ between each program and can be difficult to understand. Enter Evan Martineau, our Benefits Counselor extraordinaire! Evan has been extensively trained to help people understand their specific benefits situation and how working can help them have more money overall. Evan meets with people in groups and individually to share information, provide individualized benefits counseling, answer specific questions, and help people plan. He is available to meet with people who participate in services at the Vocational Program, our IPS pilot agencies, Service Teams, and other BHCS programs. Evan can be reached at 510-383-1639 and emartineau@acbhcs.org.

Benefits Counseling Helps People Make Informed Decisions about Work